The love song, written in Choruna’s native Gaelic, is the best-known of his works is revered as a powerful lament to the fruitlessness of war.
Now the original manuscript he penned is to be housed at a new cultural centre on the island it commemorates, giving the public the chance to see the work as it emerged from the writer’s own hand.
North Uist Historical Society will receive £165,000 of Scottish Government funding to convert Carinish Old School into a new cultural centre, to showcase items from its collection, many of which are currently kept in storage.
These include an original copy of “An Eala Bhàn” (The White Swan), which will be available for centre visitors to view.
British troops go ‘over the top’ into ‘No Man’s Land’. (Image: NQ) An Eala Bhàn was voted as the greatest Gaelic song of all time in a poll by the BBC, and has also been both sung and recorded by artists as diverse as Calum Kennedy, Donnie Munro, and Capercaillie
Singer Julie Fowlis, herself from North Uist, sang the songn at a commemorative service at the Thiepval Memorial in France to mark the centenary of the Battle in 2016.
Other items include historical artefacts from St Kilda, war memorabilia from local soldiers and press cuttings, posters and photographs from Gaelic rock band Runrig.
The centre will also operate as a tourist information point and offer tours to the site of the Battle of Carinish and the ruins of Trinity Temple.
A further £200,000 will be made available to support the construction of an auditorium for Gaelic lectures and music events at Cnoc Soiller in South Uist.
The investment is being delivered through the £4 million Gaelic Capital Fund.
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Deputy First Minister and Gaelic Secretary Kate Forbes said: “Protecting and promoting the Gaelic language can attract tourists into the country, grow the economy and contribute to community wellbeing.
“This funding will enable people to learn about Uist’s Gaelic heritage from the Middle Ages up to modern day.
“To support the growth of the Gaelic language, we have allocated an additional £5.7 million for Gaelic in the draft Budget for next year.
“The Scottish Languages Bill will also create a system to enable all parents to apply for Gaelic early learning and childcare services and introduce measures to strengthen the provision of Gaelic education.”
Julie Fowlis has performed An Eala Bhàn (Image: NQ) Dòmhnall Chorùna survived the First World War, despite seeing action at both the Somme and the Battle of Loos.
During the fighting at the Somme, he was knocked unconscious by an artillery shell and thrown in a crater. When he tried to leave, he was shot by a German sniper and hit in the arm.
However, he was able to make it back to the British trenches for treatment. The poet returned to North Uist after the war, but was unable to marry Magaidh NicLeòid as her father disapproved of the union.
Instead, he wed local girl Annie MacDonald, and the pair settled on the island to raise a family of two children.
Choruna found work as a stonemason, and continued to write and compose poetry and songs, which are still performed today.
Julie Fowlis said: “I am delighted that North Uist Historical Society has been awarded this funding support. The organisation and the wider community have collected and made safe hundreds, if not thousands, of precious items pertaining to cultural life in North Uist and the wider Island community.
“It is only right and proper that these artefacts are brought home to this building, which has been at the heart of the community for decades.
“It was a great honour and privilege for me to be asked to sing An Eala Bhàn by local bàrd Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna, at the 100 year memorial of the Battle of the Somme in Thiepval”.